Nothing Else Like It Anywhere

The idea of the Living History Cruise aboard the JOHN W BROWN is to give guests a taste of what it was like for the sailors on board the Liberty ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 1944, while raising much needed funds.   It's a way to keep history alive and to educate the public.  These ships carried troops and much needed supplies.  They were dangerous voyages with threats from the air and from the sea.  There are lots of things to do and see while on board.  There are several museums below deck as well as our Ship Store.   There is a self guided tour that takes you through the four levels of the ship. The Manhattan Dolls, The Ultimate Abbott & Costello Show and Calliope provide wonderful period entertainment all over the ship.   And of course, there's the air show.

The cruise starts at the Maryland Cruise terminal. When the Captain gives the order, the whistle blows and we're on our way.

Guests are welcome on the Flying Bridge and the Captain is happy to answer questions. There is a special silent auction and the winner gets to steer the ship from the Flying Bridge.

The U.S. Navy Armed Guard was a service branch of the US Navy during World War II. They were responsible for defending U.S. and Allied merchant ships. During each cruise they perform a memorial service that includes a 21 gun salute and a wreath laying ceremony.

Veterans who are on board are invited to participate in a wreath laying ceremony.

The Manhattan Dolls sing their way through era favorites. They also take lots of pictures posing with cruise guests.

Guests and crew alike are often swept up in the music and enjoy dancing on deck.

The Ultimate Abbott & Costello Tribute Show is always a crowd favorite. Here they perform the perennial crowd favorite Who's On First.

Calliope are a Barbershop Quartet that wander the ship during the cruise thrilling guests with their harmonies.

There isn't a bad seat in the house for the air show portion of the cruise. The planes fly along both sides of the ship and overhead as well. You can stay in the shade and enjoy the show or take a front row seat on one of the gun decks. Crew members will man the guns to fight an attack by Japanese planes.

Guests shoot the Japanese planes as well but it's not quite as loud.

A 1945 TBM Avenger shows off its torpedo as it comes in to defend the BROWN.

You can just see the wing tip of the Avenger, She's the Boss, here as it chases the Japanese planes away from the BROWN. Photo Credit: Stephen Chapis.

The air show culminates with a couple of fly overs by Briefing Time, a North American B-25 "Mitchell" Bomber. There is no mistaking the sound this plane engine makes.

As the ship heads back into port at the end of the day we are happy to know that our guests have memories that they'll treasure for a long time to come.

Don't miss the ship....

To buy tickets for the May 9th cruise click HERE.

To buy tickets for the June 13th cruise click HERE.

To buy tickets for the October 3rd cruise click HERE.  

 Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible.

"In their Own Words" -Jack the Wonder Dog

"I don't really know anything about these blog things, and I'm sure these writers are going to act like they wrote this, but we all know the truth...this is my blog, and I wrote it.  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.  I was born on October 31, 2007 on that really weird night when everyone dresses funny and wears scary masks (people are SO weird!)  I've also heard my dad, Zack, say my name is Jack O' Lantern, but I don't get it.  I just answer to Jack.  

Will you look at me?!?  I'd forgotten how small I was!  This is me and my dad.  He takes me everywhere with him, when he can.  I've been from Maine to Ohio and even to NC by T-boat.  I'm trying to convince my dad to be a lighthouse keeper for a summer.  ME and a lighthouse on an island, with my dad...how fun would that be?

I've heard people on the ship say that ship mascots have long been a part of maritime history and they have long been a tradition on the JOHN W BROWN.  That's another blog post.  My dad sometimes brought me and my Black Lab brother, Kooper to the ship.  But then Kooper got sick and died in 2011.  My dad and I were sad, so he started bringing me to the BROWN a lot more.  I have tons of friends on the ship and one of my favorite people is the Captain.  I get to stay with him and his family sometimes, and he adds yummy people food to my kibble (shhhh...don't tell my dad).  I follow the Captain around the ship, in fact, as soon as I get aboard, I run up to see if he's in his quarters, and if not, then I'll come back down and go visit everyone.  Some crew actually thought I belonged to the Captain.  How silly is that?!

I'm what you might call an ambassador for the ship.  Kids are OK but they smell AWESOME...ice cream, cookies, and cheddar cheese fish crackers.  So many scents on one small body!  Here I'm in Fell's Point at the Privateer Festival, greeting people (and smelling them) and bringing them to our display.  

So, I am an Australian Cattle dog/Blue Heeler.  My dad tells people that my 'kind' are highly intelligent and need to be a 'working dog'.  I do love to be moving and running and I also know that I can out smart some people I know.  I go everywhere on this ship, even down to the engine room. Once some police were doing training and their dogs would not come on the ship.  So my dad had me show the dogs that the gangway was not so scary and soon those police dogs were following me up to the deck. 

Not every dog gets to hang their head out of the 'window' of a WWII Liberty Ship when they go for a ride!

I might work hard, but I'm nobodies fool; I know where all the cool spots are on the BROWN.

I hope you don't think I'm just a dog.  I'm actually a crew member (with my own ID badge) and I will jump in when needed.  They don't think I can do some of this work, but I taught them a thing about line handling. 

I couldn't find my PFD, so i'm hanging out with Howard. 

Not one to be left out of anything on the ship, I jumped right in the lifeboat with my Captain.  Just call me  Chief Canine.

I've seen this at the firehouse with my dad.  A bunch of amateurs here...I need to supervise EVERYTHING!

When the Captain is busy, I am busy; where he goes, I will follow.  Sometimes I'll leave his side to go check on my dad and see who else has come on board, but then I go find the Captain again.  It's my job. 

Easy peasy.  I do better on some of these than the humans do.  I can even do about 2-3 rungs on a vertical ladder.

I'm a bit annoyed here... they SAY they are painting or something.  Hmmmff... the nerve of them keeping me alone in a cabin.   The least they could do is leave a human to play ball with me. 

Here are some more pictures of me.  Not to toot my own horn, but I'm the bees knees.  I'm pretty cool.  Well, thanks for reading my blog.  I've got to go check out Amazon...I heard there is a special on balls.  My dad thinks my lack of thumbs keeps me off the internet.  Little does HE know....

Yours truly,

Jack 

We would love to see your pictures of your special animals on your ships; plus I'm always looking for animal friends.  If you have a dog (or cat) that likes boats, post your pictures on our Facebook page."

Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible.